Gus Malzahn Says UCF is Among 'Big Four' College Football Teams in Florida

Florida State, Florida and Miami are widely known as the state's big three college football programs. Will that change with UCF's move to the Big 12?

In the Sunshine State, Florida State, Florida, and Miami have long dominated the college football scene, being spread out in two premier college football conferences. 

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As of July 1, UCF is officially a member of the Big 12, joining three other schools in the state as a Power Five Program

"You, here, think about the 'Big Three' [of Florida, Florida State, and Miami]," UCF head coach Gus Malzahn, told The Oklahoman. "It's time for the 'Big Four.' You look at the last six, eight years, we've been, as good or better as any of those other programs."

Malzahn has been with UCF for two seasons now and has a total record of 18-9 in those two seasons. The program has been relatively consistent since its 13-0 season in 2017.

The big three of Florida State, Florida, and Miami have combined for four national championships since 2000, with the Seminoles' 2013 National Championship the most recent of those titles.

Over the past half-decade, UCF has been one of the more consistent football programs, though playing in a lesser competition-filled conference. Now, in the Big 12, UCF will get more of a chance to establish itself as a power five program alongside the big three programs in Florida.

Florida State and UCF don't have much of a history of going up head-to-head on the football field. The two teams have met one time with the Seminoles swarming the Knights, defeating them quite handily with a final score of 46-14 on Sept. 23, 1995.

The same goes for Miami and UCF, as the two have matched up two times. Both Miami and Florida State could benefit from the in-state matchups, and they would provide a fun series to watch year after year. 

Plus, there's an upside with the Knights now a Power Five program, giving the Seminoles an opportunity to play a marquee non-conference game close to home.

UCF and Florida already have a series set out over the next decade, where they will match up three different times.

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